RAJESH KUMAR Vs. AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Issue Rule. With consent of parties, the matter has been taken up for final hearing.

(2.) In these proceedings, under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner challenges the cancellation of a tender process initiated by the first respondent, Airpprts Authority of India (hereafter "AAI") as well as its subsequent decision to award the contract for services of recovery cranes to remove vehicles from the "No Parking Area" to the second respondent.

(3.) The AAI had, through an advertisement dated 16th May 2003, called for tenders for the purposes of providing services for recovery cranes for towing of light vehicles parked in the "No Parking Zone" of AAI, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi ["the airport"]. Bidders were required to quote rates chargeable by them. This meant that the bidders were to indicate the rates payable on the basis of deployment of certain number of cranes, six shifts each day. It is not in dispute that as per the conditions, the petitioner was eligible to bid, which he did.